I apologize now if there are any editing mistakes I didn't correct. I've read this over so many times the words were starting to blend together.
_(*(*(-)*)*)_
The blood was pounding in his ears. He could feel the burn of the air as it savagely assaulted his lungs.
One, two, three, one, two three,
Gavin silently counted in his head to the sound of his feet pounding the pavement. It was like the dull lull of a song slowly wiping his mind clean of everything. He guessed he had already run about a mile and a half, and he was coming back up on his apartment. Part of him wanted to push on further; that voice in his head telling him he could do it if he just pushed. The other more physical, more painful part of him was begging him to stop.
His legs were burning, and his lungs were hurting. This is exactly the punishment he deserved for not visiting the pavement sooner. He could feel the fabric of his shirt clinging to his sweat soaked chest to the point that it was starting to irritate him. His cheeks were rosy with exertion and his face was wet with effort. He was almost to the front of his building. He was almost done.
Just a second ago, he was considering running past his building, now Gavin was gasping for breath praying he could make it to the door before he passed out. The thought of continuing was ludicrous. He had to stop. His breath was coming in ragged gasps as he finally made it to the door of his apartment. If Gavin could have spared the breath to laugh, he would have. Who knew he was so out of shape?
Gavin walked around in small circles, trying to cool his body down. He ran a hand through his damp hair trying to even out his breath. He leaned against the side of his building intent on stretching out his legs. He lowered his head and smiled to himself.
Not bad, old man.
Satisfied he'd stretched enough; he pushed himself from the wall and stretched his arms. He was thinking he should run up the stairs then do some pull-ups over his kitchen entryway when he got into his apartment.
Gavin headed for the door of his apartment building.
Its only three flights,
he said trying to psych himself up. His head was down so he could focus on the steps just beyond the door. Gavin was about the bust through the door of his building, when a very curvy figure stepped in front of him. The first thing he saw where the shoes – impossibly high, and impossibly pointy. His gaze traveled up a pair of legs for what seemed like days and passed over flared hips. Whoever this woman was, she looked like she was poured into her skin tights.
He clicked his teeth as his eyes climbed from her tiny waist to her flat stomach to her full breasts. His assessment only took a second and Gavin's smile grew wider as his eyes slid to her throat, and over her chin to her face.
When his eyes registered the owner of the face staring back at him, Gavin physically took a step back.
"See anything you like?" That voice was like nails grating on a chalkboard.
"Cassie. Didn't realize the devil in disguise would look so…normal." Cassie smiled. "I almost didn't recognize you without your horns and pitchfork," he said waving his hands in front of his face. "I could have mistaken you for a normal person, but that sneer gave you away."
Cassie sucked on her teeth as she watched Gavin try to be…charming. "Now is that how you greet an old girlfriend?"
Gavin chuckled. "Fuck buddies yes – in a relationship – no way."
"C'mon, we had some good times."
Gavin was starting to get angry. "What do you want?"
Cassie took a step closer and Gavin tried not to cringe. "To see you. You look scrumptious all sweaty like that. I told you I missed you."
"What do you really want?"
"A nice tumble in the sheets would be a good place to start."
"Nope. I'm off the market." The words flew out of Gavin's mouth before he could register them, but now that they were out, he didn't feel as nervous as he thought he would. It was the first time he'd put a label on he and Red, and he liked it. He smiled.
"Off the market, really? Is this like all the other times you were 'off the market' too?"
Gavin wasn't that person anymore. At least, he wasn't trying to be.
"Does
she
know that you're off the market?"
Gavin's eyebrows rose.
"Oh, you didn't know? She and Wilson have been talking lately. I'd give it a week before those two are back together. No one can resist those baby blues," Cassie said shaking her head.
Maybe Gavin
could
keep running. Clearly there were still some things he needed to get off his mind.
"Get out of my way," Gavin said about to push past her.